Posts Tagged ‘telecommunication stamp’

This stamp is full of elements that I like – multi coloured intaglio print, lattice tower, concentric circles and zig-zag electrical arrows. In addition, the size of the tower in comparison to the port town makes me smile.

I really like the lattice towers. They are designed purely for function – built as high as possible with a minimum of materials, the wind passes through otherwise it would topple down in a storm.

This stamp is looking up at one of 6 transmitters at the radio station at Varberg in Sweden, built in 1922 to 1924. Now it is classified as a World Heritage Site and opened to public on Alexanderson Day.

Another way of showing the invisible phenomenon of radio waves – a set of concentric circles. Often the waves are dispatched from a radio tower ( yes, in this case of an Italian, 1947 ) and in this Irish stamp, there is an earth in the centre to tell us that their broadcast is connected to the world.

When you depict something which you normally don’t see, you have to analyse the phenomenon and embody it. In this case, arcs from one place to another show that some voice or information has gone through the air and is being received.

This simple and clean design tells us that remote communications are flying in the blue sky over the green earth.

I did not post anything for a month… and am still looking at stamps with lattice tower…

But a book which I have just finished has revised my view on these Italian stamps. “Clouds above the Hill” by Shiba Ryotaro told me how important telecommunication facilities were already during the Russo-Japanese War in 1904 – 1905, both at the War front, as well as international newspapers which put great pressure on the Russian emperor to accept America’s mediation offer.

Similar to aviation and other heavy industries, telecommunication was developed with national needs and energy – yes, it was looked up at with awe and could be possessed by higher existence.

6 October 1965, USA
Centenary of International Telecommunication Union

Crisp intaglio stamp from the USA on the same theme as the 1965 ITU – expressing its 100 years progress with Morse code and the tracks of communication satellites. The Morse code can be read… itu itu itu and itu. A simple yet well designed stamp, I would say.

It seems that the ITU ( or UIT ) had issued some design guidance to all the countries for these centenary stamps. Then each post office made their own version – some countries paid respect to the motif and layout, and other interpreted it more freely.

Seeing the top left hand corner of the previous stamp, I remembered this one – a Brazilian stamp which has the same UIT logo with the globe. Yes, they were issued for the same centenary and this colour combination of bright yellow and green reminds me of cheerful Brazilian music.

The last stamp which is showing a Telegraph key – this one shows the history of telecommunications, all-in-one. The aerial in front of the dome is called a Helical antenna, which was built for High frequency radio communications before the usage of satellites.

I like this way to apply the traditional printing method of intaglio, for picturing the historical and the latest technology, together with lots of stars ( and satellites ) in the sky. Designed by the same engraver as this stamp, one of my top favourites.

This stamp is celebrating 100 years of the telegraph in New Zealand. The picture shows an early Telegraph key for sending Morse code, with operating hand, and telegraph poles and wire. The hand looks somehow strained – it must be sending an urgent and important message.

It is interesting to see these modern alternatives to postal services, which are often depicted on stamps. They did not imagine about the new world with ‘internet file transfer services’ yet, did they?

The host of Going Postal gave this stamp to me, among with many others from New Zealand. Thank you!